Xenoblade 3 New Game Plus Worth It, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a sprawling action RPG that took the gaming world by storm when it released in 2022. With its captivating story, massive world, and deeply engaging combat system, it quickly became one of the most beloved titles in the Xenoblade series. However, as many players have finished the main story and experienced its emotional rollercoaster, the big question arises: Is the New Game Plus (NG+) mode worth diving into for an additional playthrough?
The concept of New Game Plus isn’t new to RPGs, but Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers some unique twists on this mode, with exciting rewards and changes that provide players with new ways to experience the game. But does it enhance the experience enough to warrant another 60+ hours of gameplay? Let’s break down what you can expect from Xenoblade Chronicles 3 NG+, and why it might be worth your time.
1. What is New Game Plus in Xenoblade Chronicles 3?
In Xenoblade Chronicles 3, the New Game Plus mode unlocks after you’ve completed the main story. This mode allows you to restart the game while retaining several of your progress and upgrades from your previous playthrough. The idea is to give players the opportunity to replay the story with new advantages, tackling the game’s challenges with a sense of power and progression that differs from the first time around.
Here’s what Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers in NG+:
- Character Progression: You retain your character levels, skills, and affinity. If you reached the max level (Level 99), your characters will start at that level in NG+.
- Collectibles and Side Quests: Many of the items and collectibles you’ve unlocked during the first playthrough carry over, and you can revisit old side quests with the added benefit of being more powerful.
- Updated Equipment: Your weapons, accessories, and items may transfer, allowing you to upgrade and modify your gear in new ways.
- Unique Benefits: As you progress in NG+, you can unlock specific rewards, such as special new classes for your characters, powerful items, and some surprises that weren’t available on your first run.
The NG+ mode also comes with certain challenges designed to make the game feel both fresh and rewarding. Though enemies might still be challenging, the added power of your characters and the ability to explore previous areas with new abilities will make for an interesting experience.
2. What Makes NG+ in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 Worth It?
1. Replay the Story with Increased Power
One of the biggest draws of NG+ in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is the ability to experience the game’s story again while having the advantage of powerful characters. This can significantly change the way you approach combat, exploration, and story progression.
For players who are more interested in Xenoblade’s narrative, NG+ lets you enjoy the emotional beats and character arcs with a much stronger party, which can alter the dynamic in ways that may make some battles feel easier, but allow for a deeper focus on story and world-building. It’s also a chance to re-experience the relationships between characters, now with the added context of having seen the whole story unfold.
2. New Classes and Abilities to Unlock
In NG+, Xenoblade Chronicles 3 opens up new potential with Hero classes that you might not have unlocked in your first playthrough. You’ll gain access to different class options, which add new abilities and combat strategies. These new classes can make battles more strategic and interesting, allowing you to experiment with different roles and synergies.
Additionally, the NG+ mode may give you a chance to unlock more advanced abilities for your existing classes. For players who want to dive deeper into the combat system, NG+ offers a rewarding opportunity to experiment with new setups and build your characters into even more powerful versions of themselves.
3. Discover New Secrets and Areas
Though much of the world of Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is vast and open, there are areas and secrets that may have been inaccessible or hard to reach during your first playthrough. In NG+, the increased power and new abilities available to your characters allow you to revisit these regions, explore hidden paths, and uncover side quests or items that were not part of your original journey.
This not only makes NG+ feel like a new adventure, but it also incentivizes players to dig deeper into the world of Xenoblade Chronicles 3, rewarding exploration with new finds that weren’t available the first time around.
4. Difficulty Options for a Different Experience
While NG+ is primarily about replaying the game with your previous progress intact, you also have the opportunity to increase the difficulty for a more challenging experience. For many, the original game’s difficulty can be a bit on the easier side (especially later on), but NG+ offers a chance to ramp things up with harder enemies and tougher battles.
If you enjoyed the combat system and are looking for a greater challenge, NG+ can make battles feel fresh and engaging. Additionally, the game’s tactical battle system means that raising the difficulty will encourage you to get more creative with your team composition, abilities, and approach to each fight.
5. Unlocking the True Endgame Content
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 offers some endgame content that becomes available after completing NG+, which includes access to certain powerful enemies, quests, and items. This content isn’t unlocked during your first playthrough, meaning that NG+ can give you access to even more layers of gameplay that weren’t initially available. For players looking to fully complete the game, this content is an important incentive.
Completing NG+ and taking on these challenges can provide players with a sense of closure, as they wrap up the final loose ends of the game’s world and story. This makes NG+ a must for those who want to truly experience everything Xenoblade Chronicles 3 has to offer.
3. Is Xenoblade Chronicles 3 New Game Plus Worth It?
Whether or not NG+ in Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is worth it depends on your goals and interests. Here are a few key considerations to help you decide:
- If you love the story: NG+ lets you relive the Xenoblade Chronicles 3 narrative with new tools and abilities. The deeper understanding of the characters and world you gain after the first playthrough will allow you to appreciate the story from a different perspective. It’s perfect for fans who want to see more of the plot or experience different character interactions.
- If you’re a completionist: NG+ is a great way to unlock all the hidden content, secret areas, new classes, and endgame quests. For those who want to 100% the game and experience every bit of content, NG+ provides the necessary replayability.
- If you love the combat: The game’s strategic, real-time combat system makes Xenoblade Chronicles 3 worth revisiting. NG+ provides a chance to experiment with new team setups, abilities, and classes, especially if you didn’t get to try all the combinations in your first playthrough. With increased power and more challenging enemies, NG+ allows you to explore the combat system on a deeper level.
- If you want a challenge: If you felt the original game was too easy, NG+ offers a great way to increase the difficulty and face even tougher enemies. With higher-level enemies and better gear, NG+ can make battles more exciting, keeping you on your toes.
4. Final Thoughts: A Worthwhile Journey for Many Players
Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s New Game Plus mode is an excellent way to extend the life of the game, providing both casual players and hardcore fans with fresh challenges and new rewards. Whether you’re revisiting the game for the story, unlocking new content, experimenting with different builds, or looking for a tougher challenge, NG+ offers a significant amount of value.
For those who are satisfied with just completing the main story, NG+ might not feel essential. But for fans of the series, completionists, and those who want to dive deeper into the mechanics, Xenoblade Chronicles 3‘s NG+ is absolutely worth it, offering a whole new layer of depth to an already massive and impressive game.
